Ivan Toney: Man United held talks in January as new plan emerges | OneFootball

Manchester United held talks with Ivan Toney in January as the club considers targeting an experienced striker to bolster the frontline this summer, according to a transfer expert.

Contact is Made

Ben Jacobs (talkSPORT) reveals the Red Devils reached out to Toney’s camp in the winter window to assess a potential midseason deal. The 30-year-old Englishman joined Saudi Pro League (SPL) side Al-Ahli in August 2024 in a £40 million move from Brentford.

While leading the line for the Bees, Toney became one of Europe’s most underrated centre-forwards. Across 141 appearances at the Gtech Community Stadium, he returned 72 goals and 23 assists.

However, an eight-month ban in 2023 for betting breaches after being diagnosed with a gambling addiction deterred suitors from England’s elite. He was 27 at the time, a crucial age when looking to take the jump to a big club.

Naturally, for a high-level striker still operating in his prime, Toney has been red-hot since arriving in the Middle East. He has scored 67 times and provided 16 assists in 87 games for Al-Ahli.

The Royals are currently third in the SPL table, ten points adrift of frontrunners Al-Nassr. Toney is the league’s top scorer, however, with 27 goals, three more than Cristiano Ronaldo. Erling Haaland has scored 24 times in the Premier League this season by comparison, though the level of opposition defence is just a tad different.

Speaking to United Stand, Jacobs states: “Midseason, some of the names [United] were making enquiries on, one was a call to understand the situation of Ivan Toney, not the first time Manchester United have done that.”

The reporter concludes that it was a case of “due diligence” rather than an urgent priority, though a new update from The Athletic reveals an experienced striker is still on the agenda this summer.

This suggests a pursuit of the Northampton native could be reignited once the season draws to a close in an effort to help ease the burden on first-choice frontman, Benjamin Sesko.

Other Options Up Top

The future of Joshua Zirkzee will “define” whether United pursue another centre-forward, Jacobs claims. A return to Italy is firmly on the cards for the 24-year-old Dutchman, while there is interest from the Bundesliga as well.

The former Bologna star remains a player whose profile and potential offers hope it may still click for him in a red shirt. But nine goals and four assists in 70 appearances suggests this is forlon hope rather than reasoned expectation.

Jacobs also reveals “appreciation” for Ollie Watkins – United’s other target last summer alongside Sesko – has “not gone away, even though he’s had a hit and miss season.” Aston Villa would demand an exorbitant fee for a player who turns 31 in December, however.

An alternative route would be to promote from within by turning to the club’s academy. Chido Obi, the 18-year-old Danish sensation, has been in red-hot form for the under-18s recently and sources at Old Trafford contend he could be “part of the first-team plans regularly” next season.

Final Thoughts

If in a magical world, Toney could be signed on a season-long loan with his mammoth wage packet largely covered by Al-Ahli, he would be an excellent signing for United. Similarly, if he was to tear up his contract in Saudi Arabia and declare intent to return to England on a more reasonable salary, it would also make sense.

But neither of these scenarios are remotely likely, while revisiting a pursuit of Ollie Watins is even less probable. This creates hope that Obi may end up getting a chance to stake his claim in the senior side, if only because the more senior options elsewhere are unfeasible.

Featured image Yasser Bakhsh via Getty Images

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